2nd ANNUAL F3RES INTERNATIONAL CONTEST INFORMATION

This is an AMA-sanctioned event, AMA #876.  Follow the discussion and latest information on RCGroups.

Dates:  November 10 -11, 2018

Contest Site:  Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque, NM   (GPS Coord:  35.1978839,-106.5974739)
The Park is home to the world famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and features acres of lush grass and thermals.  It is convenient to lodging, restaurants, and other necessities.
Lunch, water and refreshments will be provided on both days (included in registration fee). 

Registration:  Here (last page), or by mail. With online registration you can pay your entry fee by PayPal or mail in a check.  If you would prefer to print an entry form and mail it with payment, please use the Mail-In Registration  form.  Registration closes Friday, November 2 - No registrations will be accepted at the contest site.

Entry Fee and Requirements:  $75 (non-refundable).  ALL PILOTS MUST BE AMA MEMBERS.  This is an AMA-sanctioned event--Membership cards will be checked.  Non-US pilots may sign up as an AMA Affiliate Member for $36 at check-in.
Awards:  Top three places—all pilots eligible:  Airframes per the document  English Translation/Interpretation For Class F3B-RES Thermal Gliders (Rudder, Elevator, Spoilers)  . 
Special Classes:  To encourage participation by pilots owning “Legacy Models”, there will be awards for the following highest scoring qualifying examples of models built and flown in 1980 and prior years. The penultimate woody of this era was the Carl Goldberg Gentle Lady.
All classes will be flown together.   Other awards TBA

Contest Org.    Richard Dick E-mail: F3RES_CO@soarabq.org
Contest Dir.     Steve Moskal E--Mail: F3RES_CD@soarabq.org (505) 358-6653

Contest Schedule:

  • Friday: Optional test flying day starting around 9AM.  A frequency board will be available and must be used.   Morning flying will be conducted on grass panel D4 (Note:  Please enquire regarding safety rules enforced on this panel.)
  • Saturday, November 10:  Registration/Check in time is 8:00 AM. 
    Pilots’ meeting is at 8:30 AM. 
    First group will fly at 9:00 AM.  Flying will be in teams of four. There will be eight hi-start lanes. In addition a ninth lane with a hi-start may be used as an alternate lane at the direction of the Contest Manager, CD or Air Boss. A likely situation for that would be the mechanical failure of a hi-start in lanes 1 through 8.
    We will stop flying as near to 5:00 PM as possible.  If we can complete 6 rounds, we can have a throw-out round.   
  • Sunday, November 11:   Pilots’ meeting 8:30 AM.  First group will fly at 9:00 AM. We will stop flying as near 1 PM as possible.

General Rules Summary 
The contest rules will be in accordance with the English Translation/Interpretation For Class F3B-RES Thermal Gliders (Rudder, Elevator, Spoilers), as posted here and with additional rules as promulgated by the Contest Director. 
Significantly, the following additions to the above-mentioned F3-RES rules shall be in force:

  • The Flight is cancelled and recorded as a zero score if any part of the model lands or extends ‘off-panel’ - specifically Panel D-6.
  • Pilots whose models land within the boundaries of the Golf Center (south of Panel D-6) at Balloon Fiesta Park will be required to report to the Golf Center Office to arrange for retrieval of their models.
  •  Hand launching will not be allowed in order to expedite retrieval. No hand launching whatsoever may be done between time the horn sounds at the start of the first task window and at the end of the last task window of the day. Model retrieval back to the starting line may only be done by walking or running  with a model in hand. The Flight is cancelled and recorded as a zero score if any contest official observes a hand launch.
  •  

Penalties:  Safety violation penalties will be assessed, per  F3-RES Rules. including, but not limited to low flying over, or landing in ‘pit’ areas, the access corridor, the Golf Center, and other zones declared as safety or ‘no-fly’ zones by the CD.
The CD will announce additional rules/restrictions as field conditions may warrant.
Scoring:  The program GliderScore will be used to score the event.  Scores will be entered by pilot/helper using the smartphone-based GliderScore eScoring Interface.  Please install a QR code reading program on your phone.  Paper score sheets will be available for use by pilots without smartphone access.  Scores shall also be entered on the score sheets provided, for verification/backup 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Lodging:  Representative motels near the park can be found here:  Lodging Near Balloon Park
RV Parking:  No overnight parking is allowed in Balloon Fiesta Park.
Directions to Balloon Fiesta Park:  Balloon Fiesta Park is off of I-25 near Roy/Tramway Road on the north edge of Albuquerque.  Set your GPS to Balloon Fiesta Pkwy NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113 and enter through Gate 3.  A club official will be present from 7 to 8 AM on contest mornings to open the automatic gate and present to you a gate pass and give you parking instructions to a parking location.  Other days/hours are TBD.  Absolutely no parking or driving on grass surfaces. 


First Name:
Last Name:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
E-Mail:
Daytime Phone #
Evening Phone #
AMA Number:
Request team mates

Number in your party (lunch count)

Total Price: $75.00  
1st channel choice:  
2nd channel choice:  

If you want to pay by PayPal just hit submit. This will take you to the the PayPal login page.

If you want to pay by check click on "Check", then Submit. (This will bypass the PayPal login page.) Make the check out to:
Albuquerque Soaring Association
Mail to:
Richard Shagam
Registrar, ABQ 2018 F3RES
1337 Camino Cerrito SE Albuquerque 87123-4452
Payment Method:


Be sure to indicate your first and 2nd 72 MHz frequency choices (if not using 2.4 GHz) before Nov. 7, 2018.
72 MHz frequencies will be assigned as first come, first served basis.  Register early with the information requested above and any fees, to help assure your preferred frequency assignment.